First Monarch butterfly of the season!

We’ve had such a long, chilly spring that extended into June - I’m glad summer has finally settled in!

It’s hot, and I was in the backyard watering the garden when something fluttered in the corner of my eye. So glad the cellphone was in my pocket!

Can you spy the butterfly? Lol There are three very tall Swamp Milkweed plants in the middle of the daylillies- the favorite plant of the Monarch butterfly.

She hung around so I was able to get a couple more shots.


I’m hoping that those milkweed plants will soon be hosting some Monarch caterpillars! Monarchs need all the help and love we can give. :heart:

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Very nice! I hardly ever see them around here. I don’t know if we’re just not on their migration track, or if there’s no flowers in the area that attract them. Great pics!

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Wouldn’t that be lovely! I wish my yard could support growing milkweed, and if it could, that I lived in a neighborhood where I could grow it without being reported to the HOA :roll_eyes:

Raising monarch caterpillars is so much fun! Oh, that reminds me, I should check my dill plant tomorrow for swallowtail caterpillars. :butterfly:

What a treat to have a visiting Monarch! :orange_heart:

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@Amethyst: thank you! Yes, your area could be well outside of their migration track. SE Michigan grazes one of them, so we’ll usually see some if we plant host plants like swamp milkweed.

I’ll keep checking! :smiley:

@Artemisia : You’d really get some trouble from your HOA for growing milkweed?! Silliness. I don’t understand that at all.

Good luck with your swallowtail cats! They should love your dill, and I’ve set out some parsley, too. Fun to watch them come around, isn’t it? :heart:

Pollinator season really gets my heart beating!

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Thanks! That way I can see them through you! :butterfly:

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And what beautiful shots they are - these are great pictures, @Feathertip! :heart: And such a lovely visitor, too. Here’s to hoping your milkweed will attract more fluttery friends throughout the season - keep us updated! :butterfly: :blush:

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Thanks, @BryWisteria - I will! :heart:

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@Feathertip omg! So beautiful I absolutely love butterflies! You are so lucky that you have your own house with flowers that the Montrachet butterflies can just fly up too!

Great pictures btw!

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Thank you, @Selena-Paloma ! :heart:

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